Tranmere Rovers 1984/85 season review

Story Timeline Full archive All results

Season story · Division 4

1984–85

24 league wins, 83–66 league goals and a campaign told match by match.

Follow the timeline Browse the archive

Manager: Bryan Hamilton, Ray Mathias25 recorded transfers

Division: Football League Division Four
Final league position: 6th
League matches: 46
League wins: 24
League draws: 3
League defeats: 19
League goals: 83–66
Average Prenton Park gate: 1,595

The journey

Four moments from the campaign

25 Aug → 11 May

25 Aug
Opening chapter
Peterborough United · 1-0
View match
20 Nov
Biggest victory
Bangor City · 7-0
View match
26 Dec
The biggest crowd
Darlington · 2-1
View match
11 May
Final word
Exeter City · 0-1
View match

Defining matches

The days that shaped the season

0120 Nov · FA CupBangor CityPrenton Park7-0 0226 Dec · LeagueDarlingtonFeethams · 6,108 attendance2-1 0311 May · LeagueExeter CitySt James Park · 1,859 attendance0-1

The team

Most-used XI

Colin ClarkeStriker

John ClaytonStriker

Doug AndersonWinger

John AspinallCentral Midfielder

Mark PaliosCentral Midfielder

Andy LeeCentral Midfielder

Steve MungallFull Back

John WilliamsCentral Defender

Steve EdwardsCentral Defender

Billy RodawayCentral Defender

Nigel AdkinsGoalkeeper

Top scorer

John Clayton

37 goals

Biggest crowd

6,108

Darlington

Season form

WLWDWLWWLLLWLWWLWW

Season recognition

Captains & awards

Club captains

No captain recorded.

Player awards

PFA Division 4 Team of the Season

John Clayton

TranmereWeb award

Player of the Season

Awarded to the highest-scoring player in the TranmereWeb fantasy rankings for 1984/85.

John Clayton 252points · See why

Season timeline

The campaign, month by month

Follow the rhythm of the season through every result, change in the dugout and recorded player movement.

Months: 10
Competitive matches: 55
Wins: 26

Open the complete results archive

May · Opening chapter

Pre-season

18 recorded moves. Exact dates are not held in the archive.View moves +

Arrivals · 12

Andy LeeFrom Stafford Rangers · Free Transfer Billy RodawayFrom Blackpool · Free Transfer Colin ClarkeFrom Peterborough United · Free Transfer Doug AndersonFrom Oldham Athletic · Free Transfer Ian McMullenFrom Trainee John ClaytonFrom Chesterfield · Free Transfer Marshall BurkeFrom Scarborough · Loan Mike ImlachFrom Peterborough United · Free Transfer Nick SinclairFrom Oldham Athletic · Free Transfer Seamus HeathFrom Wrexham · Free Transfer Steve EdwardsFrom Rochdale · Free Transfer Stuart HeapFrom Clitheroe · Free Transfer

Departures · 6

Colin ClarkeTo Bournemouth · £22,500 (tribunal)Bobby HutchinsonTo Bristol City · Free Transfer Bryan HamiltonTo Wigan Athletic · Free Transfer Dave PhilpottsTo Retired Mark FergusonTo Scarborough · Free Transfer Stuart HeapTo Released

Chapter 01
August 1984
LL
2 competitive matches · 0W 0D 2LOpen chapter +Close chapter −
Sat 25LPeterborough UnitedLondon Road · League1-0 Tue 28LPreston North EndPrenton Park · League Cup2-3
Chapter 02
September 1984
WDWLWLW
7 competitive matches · 4W 1D 2LOpen chapter +Close chapter −
Sat 1WCrewe AlexandraPrenton Park · League3-1 Tue 4DPreston North EndDeepdale · League Cup2-2 Fri 7WStockport CountyEdgeley Park · League0-2 Fri 14LSwindon TownPrenton Park · League0-2 Mon 17WHalifax TownPrenton Park · League1-0 Sat 22LPort ValeVale Park · League2-1 Sat 29WRochdalePrenton Park · League3-1
Chapter 03
October 1984
WLLLWW
6 competitive matches · 3W 0D 3LOpen chapter +Close chapter −
Wed 3WChesterSealand Road · League2-4 Sat 6LHartlepool UnitedPrenton Park · League1-2 Sat 13LWrexhamRacecourse Ground · League4-0 Sat 20LHereford UnitedEdgar Street · League2-1 Tue 23WBlackpoolPrenton Park · League3-0 Sat 27WTorquay UnitedPrenton Park · League3-1
Chapter 04
November 1984
DWLDWL
6 competitive matches · 2W 2D 2LOpen chapter +Close chapter −
Squad movement
Ray Woods departed for Released1984-11-23 Ronnie Goodlass departed for Released1984-11-23
Sat 3DMansfield TownField Mill · League0-0 Tue 6WColchester UnitedPrenton Park · League3-1 Sat 10LChesterfieldSaltergate · League4-2 Sat 17DBangor CityUnknown · FA Cup1-1 Tue 20WBangor CityPrenton Park · FA Cup7-0 Fri 23LNorthampton TownPrenton Park · League1-2
Chapter 05
December 1984
WLWWLL
6 competitive matches · 3W 0D 3LOpen chapter +Close chapter −
Squad movement
John Platt loaned in from Bolton Wanderers1984-12-01
Sat 1WSouthend UnitedRoots Hall · League2-3 Sat 8LHull CityPrenton Park · FA Cup0-3 Sat 15WAldershotPrenton Park · League4-3 Fri 21WExeter CityPrenton Park · League3-2 Wed 26LDarlingtonFeethams · League2-1 Sat 29LBuryGigg Lane · League3-0
Chapter 06
January 1985
WWLLW
5 competitive matches · 3W 0D 2LOpen chapter +Close chapter −
Tue 1WScunthorpe UnitedPrenton Park · League2-0 Sat 5WPeterborough UnitedPrenton Park · League4-0 Fri 25LBlackpoolBloomfield Road · Freight Rover Trophy2-1 Sat 26LSwindon TownCounty Ground · League2-1 Tue 29WBlackpoolPrenton Park · Freight Rover Trophy4-1
Chapter 07
February 1985
LLDW
4 competitive matches · 1W 1D 2LOpen chapter +Close chapter −
Ray Mathias took charge
Bryan Hamilton left the role
Squad movement
Neville Powell departed for Bangor City1985-02-09
Sat 2LRochdaleSpotland · League2-1 Tue 12LHalifax TownThe Shay · League2-1 Fri 22DMansfield TownPrenton Park · League0-0 Tue 26WCrewe AlexandraGresty Road · League1-3
Chapter 08
March 1985
DWLWDWL
7 competitive matches · 3W 2D 2LOpen chapter +Close chapter −
Sat 2DTorquay UnitedPlainmoor · League1-1 Tue 5WBlackpoolBloomfield Road · League1-2 Fri 8LHereford UnitedPrenton Park · League0-1 Sat 16WWrexhamPrenton Park · League3-1 Tue 19DBurnleyPrenton Park · Freight Rover Trophy2-2 Sat 23WHartlepool UnitedVictoria Park · League2-4 Fri 29LColchester UnitedLayer Road · League2-1
Chapter 09
April 1985
WWLLLWLWW
9 competitive matches · 5W 0D 4LOpen chapter +Close chapter −
Squad movement
Gary Williams departed for Released1985-04-30 Seamus Heath departed for Released1985-04-30
Mon 1WPort ValePrenton Park · League4-1 Sat 6WDarlingtonPrenton Park · League3-0 Tue 9LScunthorpe UnitedOld Show Ground · League5-2 Thu 11LWigan AthleticSpringfield Park · Freight Rover Trophy3-1 Sat 13LChesterfieldPrenton Park · League0-1 Tue 16WChesterPrenton Park · League1-0 Sat 20LNorthampton TownCounty Ground · League2-0 Fri 26WSouthend UnitedPrenton Park · League2-0 Mon 29WStockport CountyPrenton Park · League3-0
Chapter 10
May 1985
LWW
3 competitive matches · 2W 0D 1LOpen chapter +Close chapter −
Ray Mathias left the role
Sat 4LAldershotRecreation Ground · League3-2 Mon 6WBuryPrenton Park · League3-2 Sat 11WExeter CitySt James Park · League0-1

Division

Division 4

FA Cup:

Round: 2

Lg Cup:

Round: 1

Previous Next

Season archive

Squad & staff

Managers

Name	From
Bryan Hamilton	1980-10-01
Ray Mathias	1985-02-08

Shirts

Top Scorer

Name	Starts	Goals
John Clayton	52	37

Player Data

Name	Starts	Goals
Colin Clarke	53 (0)	29
Doug Anderson	52 (1)	5
John Clayton	52 (0)	37
John Williams	51 (0)	4
David Burgess	50 (0)	0
Nigel Adkins	45 (0)	0
Steve Edwards	39 (0)	5
Gary Williams	38 (0)	7
John Aspinall	33 (3)	7
Steve Mungall	27 (1)	0
Mark Palios	26 (3)	4
Billy Rodaway	21 (2)	1
Nick Sinclair	20 (1)	0
Andy Lee	18 (6)	0
Mark Ferguson	18 (4)	1
John Platt	10 (0)	0
Seamus Heath	9 (15)	0
Dave Higgins	8 (1)	0
Ray Woods	7 (1)	0
Mike Imlach	5 (0)	0
Robert Kelly	5 (0)	1
Dave Philpotts	4 (0)	0
Ian McMullen	3 (2)	1
Mark Hilditch	3 (0)	1
Marshall Burke	3 (0)	0
Ray Mathias	2 (0)	0
Bryan Hamilton	1 (1)	0
Neville Powell	1 (0)	0
Ronnie Goodlass	1 (0)	0
Stuart Heap	0 (3)	0

Full Player Records

Selection summary

Competitive record

55 matches played

Venue	Pld	Won	Draws	Lost	For	Agn	Diff
Away	27	7	4	16	38	53	-15
Home	28	19	2	7	63	28	+35
Total	55	26	6	23	101	81	+20

Match list

Results

55 matches

Date	Opposition	Competition	Result	Att.
25/8	AwayPeterborough United	League	1-0	3049
28/8	HomePreston North End	League Cup	2-3	0
1/9	HomeCrewe Alexandra	League	3-1	1607
4/9	AwayPreston North End	League Cup	2-2	0
7/9	AwayStockport County	League	0-2	2825
14/9	HomeSwindon Town	League	0-2	2053
17/9	HomeHalifax Town	League	1-0	1421
22/9	AwayPort Vale	League	2-1	3301
29/9	HomeRochdale	League	3-1	1452
3/10	AwayChester	League	2-4	2710
6/10	HomeHartlepool United	League	1-2	1619
13/10	AwayWrexham	League	4-0	2044
20/10	AwayHereford United	League	2-1	3588
23/10	HomeBlackpool	League	3-0	2084
27/10	HomeTorquay United	League	3-1	1522
3/11	AwayMansfield Town	League	0-0	1996
6/11	HomeColchester United	League	3-1	1587
10/11	AwayChesterfield	League	4-2	3854
17/11	AwayBangor City	FA Cup	1-1	0
20/11	HomeBangor City	FA Cup	7-0	0
23/11	HomeNorthampton Town	League	1-2	1899
1/12	AwaySouthend United	League	2-3	2069
8/12	HomeHull City	FA Cup	0-3	0
15/12	HomeAldershot	League	4-3	1237
21/12	HomeExeter City	League	3-2	1115
26/12	AwayDarlington	League	2-1	6108
29/12	AwayBury	League	3-0	4065
1/1	HomeScunthorpe United	League	2-0	1953
5/1	HomePeterborough United	League	4-0	1511
25/1	AwayBlackpool	Freight Rover Trophy	2-1	0
26/1	AwaySwindon Town	League	2-1	2869
29/1	HomeBlackpool	Freight Rover Trophy	4-1	0
2/2	AwayRochdale	League	2-1	1249
12/2	AwayHalifax Town	League	2-1	914
22/2	HomeMansfield Town	League	0-0	1273
26/2	AwayCrewe Alexandra	League	1-3	1867
2/3	AwayTorquay United	League	1-1	1069
5/3	AwayBlackpool	League	1-2	4885
8/3	HomeHereford United	League	0-1	1723
16/3	HomeWrexham	League	3-1	1370
19/3	HomeBurnley	Freight Rover Trophy	2-2	0
23/3	AwayHartlepool United	League	2-4	1326
29/3	AwayColchester United	League	2-1	2044
1/4	HomePort Vale	League	4-1	1450
6/4	HomeDarlington	League	3-0	2137
9/4	AwayScunthorpe United	League	5-2	2260
11/4	AwayWigan Athletic	Freight Rover Trophy	3-1	0
13/4	HomeChesterfield	League	0-1	1770
16/4	HomeChester	League	1-0	1381
20/4	AwayNorthampton Town	League	2-0	1581
26/4	HomeSouthend United	League	2-0	1082
29/4	HomeStockport County	League	3-0	1006
4/5	AwayAldershot	League	3-2	1532
6/5	HomeBury	League	3-2	2429
11/5	AwayExeter City	League	0-1	1859